Methods for making curved pieces from continuous metal elements are provided. Such methods include advancing a continuous metal element through a calendering station such that each length of the element assumes a pre-established curvature; stopping advancement of the element after a curved length thereof has passed through a wrap-bending station located downstream of the calendering station; wrap-bending the length of the element located at the station, while simultaneously conveying the curved portion to a stretch-bending station; stretch-bending the curved portion; resuming advancement of the element until the wrap-bent length is at a cutting station; and cutting the element in the wrap-bent length, thus producing the desired curved piece. Curved pieces produced by such methods are also provided.

A stretch forming device includes a die and gripping portions gripping both end portions of an elongate material. The cross-sectional shape of the die has a curved shape bulging a central side of a forming surface; the length in a longitudinal direction of the elongate material is less than that of the forming surface; a second die having a second forming surface along the forming surface is installed removably on a central portion of the forming surface; and the stretch forming device has a first mode wherein, when the second die is installed on the forming surface, only the second die is pressed against the elongate material while a tensile force is applied to the elongate material, and a second mode wherein, when the second die is removed from the forming surface, the die is pressed against the elongate material while a tensile force is applied to the elongate material.

A stretch forming device includes a die and gripping portions gripping both end portions of an elongate material. The cross-sectional shape of the die has a curved shape bulging a central side of a forming surface; the length in a longitudinal direction of the elongate material is less than that of the forming surface; a second die having a second forming surface along the forming surface is installed removably on a central portion of the forming surface; and the stretch forming device has a first mode wherein, when the second die is installed on the forming surface, only the second die is pressed against the elongate material while a tensile force is applied to the elongate material, and a second mode wherein, when the second die is removed from the forming surface, the die is pressed against the elongate material while a tensile force is applied to the elongate material.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a manufacturing method of a mask plate. The manufacturing method of the mask includes: embedding a shaping mold in a mask region of a mask sheet; fixing the mask sheet with the shaping mold; performing a stretching process on the mask sheet fixed with the shaping mold; and separating the mask sheet from the shaping mold to form the mask.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a manufacturing method of a mask plate. The manufacturing method of the mask includes: embedding a shaping mold in a mask region of a mask sheet; fixing the mask sheet with the shaping mold; performing a stretching process on the mask sheet fixed with the shaping mold; and separating the mask sheet from the shaping mold to form the mask.

The present invention is directed to an integral planet carrier with no joints, a method of manufacturing it and an apparatus for doing so. Such integrally manufactured components have better strength than a conventionally produced multi-piece jointed planet carriers or integral planet carriers made from casting process. The present invention provides a hot forging process which can be used for the manufacturing of the planet carrier. The manufacturing process comprises of forward extrusion of a billet followed by backward extrusion. This is followed by bending operation, which is in turn followed by a flattening operation. Post-forging heat treatment and other treatments such as shot blasting follow. Finally machining is carried out to arrive at the final integrally formed planet carrier. The forward extrusion, backward extrusion, bending and flattening operations are done on a press or hammer having sufficient energy and load capacity. Preferably these operations are performed on a hydraulic press in order to achieve the required accuracy and precision.

A manufacturing method is disclosed herein. The method includes arranging a preform with a plurality of clamping assemblies, the plurality of clamping assemblies disposed along ends of the preform; and forming the preform into a shaped body, the forming including incrementally tensioning the preform around a surface of an inner mold line using the plurality of clamping assemblies; and drawing the preform into a set of forming beads of the inner mold line.

A method of forming an annular part includes forming a conical or frusto-conical preform with at least one open end, initiating an actuation means to cause relative coaxial movement only between a punch, a clamping means and a gripping means, thereby clamping a large diameter end of the preform in the clamping means and gripping a second small diameter end of the preform in the gripping means and the external surface of the punch to engage the internal surface of the preform, and causing relative co-axial movement between the gripping means and the punch so that the portion of the wall of the preform between the punch and the gripping means is formed over the leading edge of the punch.

A method of forming an annular part includes forming a conical or frusto-conical preform with at least one open end, initiating an actuation means to cause relative coaxial movement only between a punch, a clamping means and a gripping means, thereby clamping a large diameter end of the preform in the clamping means and gripping a second small diameter end of the preform in the gripping means and the external surface of the punch to engage the internal surface of the preform, and causing relative co-axial movement between the gripping means and the punch so that the portion of the wall of the preform between the punch and the gripping means is formed over the leading edge of the punch.

A robotic tube bending machine is disclosed. The machine includes a tube feeding tray to load tubes. The pneumatic feed separator comprising two jaws to move in a reciprocating motion to separate each tube for sequential operation. The machine includes a robotic arm assembly in communication with a controller and includes a robotic arm and a pneumatic gripper and two gripper fingers to pick each tube from the tray by simultaneous movement of multiple axis of the robotic arm to reach a three-dimensional coordinate. The collision detection module to detect presence of the robotic arm across a non-intended area by measuring force of the robotic arm and deactivate the robotic arm upon detecting a condition of collision. The machine includes a bending die to clamp each tube and a pressure die to apply pressure on the bending die to bend each tube in intricate three dimensional shapes by rotating the tubes at predefined angles by maneuvering the robotic arm.